“Ah Chu,”

Zhao Song handed over the golden box and said: “This is for you.”

Chu Qiao was startled: “How could I accept that? Such a precious thing.”

“Just take it.” Zhao Song insisted, forcing the item into Chu Qiao’s hands: “It’s of no use to me. You know me—I lose interest after a brief fascination, and then I’d just give it to someone else anyway, so I might as well give it to you first. Your health is delicate, and Yan Xun is such a cold-hearted fellow, making you run about in this freezing weather. I heard you just returned from the north, is that right?”

“Yes,” Chu Qiao nodded and said: “I went north to procure some goods, for the Young Master’s small business ventures in Yan Bei.”

“I have new snow-skin coats brought by the Siserians in my palace. They’re exceptionally warm. When I return, I’ll have someone deliver one to you. Remember to wear it.”

“Mmm,” Chu Qiao smiled: “Thank you.”

“Alright then, I’ll head back first.”

Chu Qiao was surprised: “You’re not participating in the upcoming hunt?”

Zhao Song shook his head: “The hunt will last for several days. Today is the human hunt, with people surrounding and shooting arrows at a few small slaves. I have no taste for such activities. I just came to find you, and now that I have, I’m heading back.”

Chu Qiao nodded, about to speak, when suddenly a shrill voice called out: “Oh my little ancestor, this servant had no such intention!”

Chu Qiao and Zhao Song turned around to see two youths, about sixteen or seventeen years old, standing shoulder to shoulder in front of Zhao Song’s tent. Their features were quite deep, sharing about seventy to eighty percent resemblance. One had thick eyebrows and large eyes with a sharp gaze, wearing a sapphire blue robe with a large fur cloak, resembling a strong young leopard. The other wore a grayish-white fur coat that appeared somewhat old, reaching only to his thighs and seeming a bit short. His gaze was indifferent, cold as ice and snow. Behind them followed only a sparse few short servants, with no carriages or horses. The blue-robed youth glared coldly at a small eunuch in second-class internal servant attire, angrily saying: “If not that meaning, then what did you mean?”

The small eunuch had been kicked and one of his sleeves had nearly fallen off. He cried out in pain, saying: “This servant meant that this campsite is reserved for the Thirteenth Prince. Sixteenth Prince, you cannot use it.”

The youth’s voice was deep. Hearing this, his eyes instantly grew cold. He grabbed the small eunuch by the collar and angrily said: “Then where am I assigned?”

“You, you are assigned to the woods on the west side.”

“Is that so?” The youth laughed coldly: “A fine place indeed. If I recall correctly, that’s next to the animal stables, isn’t it?”

“Well, well, we servants will be careful not to let those beasts disturb the Sixteenth Master’s sweet dreams at night.”

“Yu Delu!” The youth’s eyes widened, and he immediately shouted: “How dare you!”

“Sixteen!” A deep voice suddenly rang out. The youth in the grayish-white fur coat next to him extended his arm in front of the young man and said in a deep voice: “Don’t cause trouble.”

“How am I causing trouble?” The youth said angrily: “Fourteenth Brother, I just don’t understand. We’re all father’s sons. Why are some held in the center, surrounded by admiring stars, while others are relegated to the edges to live with animals? It’s because of these dog servants with their discriminating dog eyes!”

“Say no more,” the Fourteenth turned his head and said to Yu Delu in a deep voice: “Eunuch Lu, please lead the way and take us to the campsite to set up our tents.”

“Yes, yes.” Yu Delu scrambled to his feet, leading the way in front.

“Wait!”

Zhao Song suddenly called out, walking forward a few steps. When the Sixteenth saw him, his eyes immediately widened, and he was about to rush forward but was pulled back by the Fourteenth at his side.

“Thirteenth Brother.”

Zhao Song nodded and said to Yu Delu: “Eunuch Lu, I won’t be participating in today’s hunt. Let this place be given to my Fourteenth and Sixteenth Brothers.”

Yu Delu was stunned upon hearing this, cautiously looking at Zhao Song, then asked: “What about tomorrow? And the day after? Will the Thirteenth Prince not be coming at all?”

Zhao Song laughed and said: “Tomorrow we’ll discuss tomorrow’s arrangements. Even staying next to animals isn’t a big deal. Don’t forget, I even slept in horse stables when I was little. It’s fine.”

“Well…”

As Yu Delu was about to speak, the Fourteenth suddenly interrupted: “Thank you for your kindness, Thirteenth Brother. The sixteenth Brother is young and doesn’t understand things. This place should be kept for the Thirteenth Brother. Sixteen, let’s go.”

With that, he pulled the Sixteenth Prince away.

Yu Delu was stunned, then quickly followed behind.

Chu Qiao walked forward, her brows slightly furrowed, looking in the direction of their departure.

“That’s the Fourteenth, his name is simply the character ‘Yang.’ He’s quite peculiar. You might not have seen him before. His and the Sixteenth’s mothers were favored concubines given to fathers by the Hanjia people. They come from humble origins and have always stayed in the Western Five Palace, never venturing to your area.”

“Oh,” Chu Qiao nodded, remaining silent.

“Alright, I’m leaving. Go find Yan Xun, and be careful of Zhuge Yue. I saw him at the banquet last night. He’s not the same as before—be wary of him.”

Chu Qiao nodded: “I understand.”

Zhao Song mounted his horse with his guards, but not before turning back to instruct: “Don’t wander around unnecessarily. Jing Han and the others have all seen you before, so be careful not to reveal yourself. Wei Shu You has also come this time, so you and Yan Xun need to keep your tempers in check.”

The girl sighed helplessly, urging: “I know, now hurry and go.”

“If anything happens, quickly send someone to notify me. Don’t stubbornly handle it alone.”

Chu Qiao said with a mixed expression of amusement and exasperation: “If you don’t leave now, it will be dark soon.”

“Hmph,” Zhao Song turned his horse’s head, muttering as he left: “Always rushing me away, ungrateful. Sooner or later, you’ll know who has the most human touch.”

With a “Hya!” Zhao Song led his group away in a rush.

Chu Qiao watched Zhao Song’s departing figure and suddenly felt that the sunset in the west was so warm that she could hardly feel the sharp north wind.

On her way back, she happened to pass by the woods on the west side. From a distance, she saw the Fourteenth Prince Zhao Yang and the Sixteenth Prince Zhao Xiang setting up tents with several servants. Chu Qiao silently noted this in her heart, merely glancing once before turning to walk toward Yan Xun’s camp.

As soon as she pulled back the curtain, the warm fragrance of orchids immediately greeted her. Yan Xun didn’t look up, seemingly writing something, and said calmly: “Zhao Song has left?”

Chu Qiao looked at Yan Xun and sat directly by the fire basin to warm her hands: “How perceptive of you.”

Yan Xun exhaled deeply, placing the document he’d just written on the desk, putting down his pen, and said: “He never enjoyed this kind of event since childhood, so it’s not surprising that he left.”

Hearing Yan Xun casually refer to it as an “event,” for some reason, Chu Qiao suddenly felt a chill in her heart. She raised her head and asked solemnly: “He doesn’t enjoy it, but what about you?”

Yan Xun frowned: “Are you asking about the past or the present?”

“Both.”

“Ah Chu,” Yan Xun came forward, crouching beside Chu Qiao, and said: “Do you know where my father failed?”

Chu Qiao looked up but didn’t speak. Yan Xun smiled faintly, his smile bitter yet tinged with a subtle bloodthirstiness.

“He failed because he was too soft-hearted because he valued relationships too much. He once had the opportunity to depose Emperor Xia De and ascend the throne himself, leading the Yan clan back into the Zhao family genealogy, but he didn’t take it. Later, he also had the chance to kill the attacking General Meng Tian, but he didn’t do that either. So in the end, he had his family property confiscated by Zhao Zhengde and was beheaded by Meng Tian. From the day I entered the Holy Gold Palace, I vowed never to be like him in this lifetime.”

The young Yan heir stood up, his posture straight, his features handsome, his eyes as black as the deep sea, and walked toward the exit.

With his hand lifting the curtain, the young man paused and said in a deep voice: “If you cannot accept this, stay in the tent tonight. Don’t come out to watch.”